In Agony...Please Help

[janelle]

O.K. Ladies I need your advice.  I woke up this morning in absollute agony in one breast.  At first I just felt really engorged and thought that was all it was being that i have only been feeding 1 week.  But even after feeding the pain hasn't gone away.  It is now 5pm and I am still in pain.  My one breast feels so much fuller thatn the other even shortly after feeding  and even moving my arm hurts.  It is not my nipple that is sore but more at the base of my breast all down the outside if that makes sense.  I can't feel any lump so to speak but the veins that are usually purple are now red.  Any ideas what this is and how to treat it, should I be going to the doctor???  I don't feel sick at all but it is sooooo painful I have been in tears most of the day.  Oh and it doesn't hurt any more or less while I am feeding.
Thanks

[JacobMarksMummy]

I wouldn't take any risks get straight to the doctors and get yourself checked out. If it turns out to be nothing great but if it is mastitis then it needs sorting asap. For relief have you tried those gel filled pads you put in the fridge? A bit more ascetically pleasing than cabbage leaves and worked wonders for me

Keep us updated

[evelyn]

{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}
definately go and get yourself checked out, it could be a blocked duct or the beginnings of mastitis, but hopefully its nothing too bad....but always err on the side of caution!

[mcruari]

Hi Janelle,
sorry to hear you're having a bad moment.
Although Nome's suggestion of the cold gel bags must give relief, I seem to remember that if you felt engorged you were advised to stand under a hot shower (and when I say hot I mean as hot as you can bear) and massage your breast from your collar bone down to you nipple. I never had any problems like you are having but I do remember how many times I white-washed the bathroom tiles after a nice hot shower
Good luck and let us know how you are getting on.

Sinead

[Samuel's mum]

Sorry you're in pain. Obviously we're not medical experts here but 'a red line' on the breast is often an indicator for mastitis. You should definitely go and get yourself checked out. Go to the ER if necessary. Remember to say though that you intend to continue nursing if they do have to offer you antibiotics (which may NOT be necessary for everyone). There are antibiotics available which are safe to use while nursing. Good Luck and hope you feel better soon.

[daisymelan]

Jannell,

Yes, go see a dr ASAP.  What you described sounds exactly like how my mastitis developed.  Please update us when you get a spare moment.

And I agree, you have to nurse through it and they can offer antibiotics that will help you.  Some does get through to the baby, but it's best for everyone involved if they are prescribed by the Dr.

{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}

[janelle]

Thanks ladies.  I think I definately have an infection.  I have bee up all night.  It isnow 6am and I am just waiting for the doctors to open so I can go.  I have had a splitting headache and backache all night.  Never been in so much pain in fact. I am either boiling hot or freezing cold and am running a temperature.  Not to mention the pain in my breast.  So I am off to the doctors to have confirmed what I already suspect.  I am tryng to last out till 8am when they open but I might be heading down to the ER if the pain doesn't subside in the next little bit,.  Thanks for the advice and I will let you know how i get on.

[Samuel's mum]

That sounds horrible. Hope you get the help you need quickly.
Best Wishes.

[daisymelan]

Oh....  Big {{{{hugs}}}} to you.

[evelyn]

hope you feel better soon!

[janelle]

Thanks Ladies!   I went to the doctor and yes it is mastitis.  I am now on antibiotics and some nice strong painkillers.  I feel like I've been hit by a bus though :(Just waiting for the antibiotics to kick in to kill this fever so I can begin to feel normal.  I never realised how painful mastitis was!!!!!  Thanks for your thoughts.

[Samuel's mum]

I'm glad you're on the road to recovery. Ouch though!

[daisymelan]

Janelle, I'm so happy you went to see your Dr.  But trust me, as soon as you start the antibiotics, you will start noticing a difference.  It took me less than one day to be comfortable again.  I'm sure you'll notice it as well.  I hope things start clearing up fast and that the rest of your bfing experience is wonderful.

{{{{{hugs}}}}}

[deb]

I must've missed this earlier. Glad you got to the doctor - I would have said the same.

While you're on antibiotics, and for a few days thereafter, make sure you get some probiotics into you - and into baby as well! At the very least you can prevent a lot of digestive discomfort and gas and diarrhea.

Feel better - I remember my mastitis clearing up pretty quickly one I got on meds.

[janelle]

Ahhhhh!!!!  The drugs are working   Fever is all but gone and I am starting to feel normal again.  Hurts quite a lot to feed now but is manageable.  Now to find time to catch up on the missed sleep (hahahahahahahahahahahah)